Don't Leave Me (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 17

With Iroh and I having woken up one morning to find our ostrich horse had been stolen, now we were reunited with Zuko, we all had to pile onto his. 

Poor thing. 

Once again, Iroh was groaning and moaning and making all sorts of pained noises. 

"Maybe we should make camp." Zuko finally gave in. 

"No please, don't stop just for me."

His sounds of pain only got more dramatic. 

I sighed, "I do need to apply some more burn cream anyway."

Zuko stopped the ostrich-horse, jumping off then reaching up to help me down too. Nalo's little spot on the ostrich horse's head was abandoned to spread his little leg. I couldn't even reach for my bag to get my small container of the paste before there was the tiniest of sounds and Zuko was on guard. 

"What now?" Iroh complained. 

We were surrounded by several men in Fire Nation uniforms. Iroh got up and held Zuko's shoulder to tell him to stand down. 

"Colonel Mongke. What a pleasant surprise."

"If you're surprised we're here then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps." He smacked the sharpened wrist guards he was wearing together to make threatening clanging noises. 

The next man produced a gaun dao, another flaming bow and arrows and the other a chain. 

"You know these guys?"

Iroh smiled knowingly, "Sure. Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapon specialist. They are also a very capable singing group."

I don't think they've come for karaoke night though.

"We're not here to give a concert!" The leader yelled, "We're here to apprehend fugitives. 

"Would you like some tea first? I'd love some! How about you, Qachi? I make you as a Jasmine man. Am I right?"

I don't think now's the time for a tea party. 

"Stop stalling! Round them up!"

One man through his flail towards Iroh which he kicked away. Another shot his arrows at me which I dodged by quickly producing my dagger and hitting them away. I flung a dart straight at him, hitting him square in the face and causing him to fall unconscious. I did the same with two others who's rhinos started charging off with their owners dead asleep on them. Zuko and Iroh fought back Colonel Mongke before jumping onto the ostrich horse and setting off, Zuko wuite literally picking me up on the way and pulling me into his lap. 

Unfortunately, we were still being chased by the final member of the group. He threw an explosive at us but we made it through unharmed. 

I turned around on the ostrich horse, grabbing a dart and concentrating hard. I threw it at him. 

It passed through the grill of his helmet and presumabely pierced the skin inside and he cried out in pain, falling off his rhino. 

"It's good to see old friends." Iroh pondered. 

"Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you."

"Hmm." Iroh seemed to be in deep thought, "Old friends that don't want to attack me."

*****

Katara sighed, looking at all her friends fast asleep. She knew it'd be a long journey out of the desert.